The school eventually became a burden, and Kent returned to her career, though her position with the company had been seriously jeopardized by her absence. She remained with the New York City Ballet until 1982, but in her final years with the company, she only danced on an average of once a season. Just one week after the company let her go, George Balanchine died, marking the end of her career with even greater sadness. "For me, ballet-the continuation of my childhood dreams and the way I chose to rebel against my mother, visually but soundlessly-was over," Kent wrote in her autobiography. After leaving the company, Kent, desperate for income, held a variety of temporary teaching positions.